Potential cotton aphid,Aphis gossypii,population suppression by arthropod predators in upland cotton

The cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover, predation rate of convergent lady beetle, Hippodamia convergens Guerin‐Meneville, was determined by assigning a single predator randomly to each of four prey density treatments in the laboratory. Prey densities included 25, 50, 100, and 200 aphids per Petri dish arena. Predation response was recorded at 1, 4, 8, 16, 24, and 48 h after assigning predators to their prey treatments. Rate of consumption increased through time, with all 25 aphids consumed during the first 4 h of the experiment. At the highest density, adult lady beetle consumed on average 49, 99, 131, 163, 183, and 200 aphids within 1, 4, 8, 16, 24 and 48 h, respectively. Predators showed a curvilinear feeding response in relation to total available time, indicating that convergent lady beetles have the potential to suppress larger populations of aphids through continuous feeding by regulating their predation efficiency during feeding. The analysis of age‐specific mortality in absence of prey revealed that lady beetles could survive for an extended period of time (more than 2 weeks) without prey. The ability of a predator to survive without prey delays or prevents the rebound of pest populations that is a significant factor in natural biological control. A two‐year field sampling of 10 cotton arthropod predator species showed that spiders (27%) were the most dominant foliage dwelling predators in the Texas High Plains cotton followed by convergent lady beetles (23.5%), hooded beetles (13.5%), minute pirate bugs (11%), green lacewings (9.5%), bigeyed bugs (7.5%), scymnus beetles (3%), soft‐winged flower beetles (2%), damsel bugs (1.5%), and assassin bugs (1.5%). A field cage study showed that one H. convergens adult per plant released at prey density of one aphid per leaf kept the aphid population below economic threshold for the entire growing season.     

Compatibility of flonicamid and a formulated mixture of pyrethrins and azadirachtin with predators for soybean aphid (Hemiptera: Aphididae) management

The invasive soybean aphid, Aphis glycines Matsumura, is an important pest in North American soybean production. Predators can play an important role in suppressing A. glycines. However, current A. glycines management practices rely primarily on broad-spectrum insecticides, which can adversely affect natural enemy populations. An alternative is the use of selective insecticides that control the targeted pest species, while having a reduced impact on natural enemies. In greenhouse and laboratory assays, we tested the effects of lambda-cyhalothrin, two rates of flonicamid, which is currently not registered for use in soybean, and a formulated mixture of pyrthrins and azadirachtin on A. glycines and its natural enemies, Chrysoperla rufilabris (Burmeister), Orius insidiosus (Say) and Hippodamia convergens (Guerin-Meneville). All insecticides significantly reduced A. glycines populations. Lambda-cyhalothrin was highly toxic to the natural enemies tested. Flonicamid showed the lowest toxicity to natural enemies, but the high rate did decrease survival of O. insidiosus. The mixture of pyrethrins and azadirachtin was toxic to larvae of C. rufilabris and adult O. insidiosus. Moreover, the mixture of pyrethrins and azadirachtin increased the developmental time of C. rufilabris. These results indicate potential for flonicamid and the mixture of pyrethrins and azadirachtin to increase compatibility between chemical and biological controls.     

A false‐positive food chain error associated with a generic predator gut content ELISA

Conventional prey‐specific gut content ELISA (enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay) and PCR (polymerase chain reaction) assays are useful for identifying predators of insect pests in nature. However, these assays are prone to yielding certain types of food chain errors. For instance, it is possible that prey remains can pass through the food chain as the result of a secondary predator (hyperpredator) consuming a primary predator that had previously consumed the pest. If so, the pest‐specific assay will falsely identify the secondary predator as the organism providing the biological control services to the ecosystem. Recently, a generic gut content ELISA was designed to detect protein‐marked prey remains. That assay proved to be less costly, more versatile, and more reliable at detecting primary predation events than a prey‐specific PCR assay. This study examines the chances of obtaining a ‘false positive’ food chain error with the generic ELISA. Data revealed that the ELISA was 100% accurate at detecting protein‐marked Lygus hesperus Knight (Hemiptera: Miridae) remains in the guts of two (true) primary predators, Hippodamia convergens Guérin‐Méneville (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) and Collops vittatus (Say) (Coleoptera: Melyridae). However, there was also a high frequency (70%) false positives associated with hyperpredators, Zelus renardii Kolenati (Hemiptera: Reduviidae), that consumed a primary predator that possessed protein‐marked L. hesperus in its gut. These findings serve to alert researchers that the generic ELISA, like the PCR assay, is susceptible to food chain errors.     

多异瓢虫对瓜蚜为害后植物挥发物的行为反应及挥发物成分分析

为明确寄主植物挥发物在多异瓢虫Hippodamia variegata (Goeze)搜索猎物过程中的作用, 采用Y型嗅觉仪测定了多异瓢虫成虫对来自瓜蚜Aphis gossypii Glover、 健康植株、 有蚜植株及蚜害植株本身的挥发物的行为反应。结果表明： 高密度蚜虫（≥700头/L）、 有蚜植株以及密度≥400头/盆的蚜虫为害诱导的黄瓜挥发物和密度≥200头/盆的蚜虫为害诱导的搅瓜挥发物对多异瓢虫成虫具有明显的引诱作用, 而低密度蚜虫（≤500头/L）和健康植株挥发物没有引诱作用。应用动态顶空收集法提取健康植株、 有蚜植株及蚜害植株的挥发物, 进行气质联用仪分析鉴定。结果表明, 从黄瓜健康植株、 蚜害植株和有蚜植株中分别鉴定出8, 12和18种挥发物, 主要组分为十八烯、 E-5-二十碳烯、 正十六烷和正十七烷, 诱导出的新组分为对二甲苯、 邻二甲苯、 正十三烷、 α-法呢烯、 雪松醇、 正十八烷、 正二十六烷及7种未知种类; 从搅瓜健康植株、 蚜害植株和有蚜植株分别鉴定出11, 18和20种挥发物, 主要组分为石竹烯、 十八烯、 正十六烷和正十七烷, 诱导出的新组分为苯乙烷、 对二甲苯、 间二甲苯、 α-蒎烯、 正十四烷、 长叶烯、 α-石竹烯及2种未知种类。上述结果为进一步研究挥发物中引诱多异瓢虫的有效组分奠定了必要的基础。     

Towards nano-physiology of insects with atomic force microscopy

Little study of insects with modern nanotechnology tools has been done so far. Here we use one of such tool, atomic force microscopy (AFM) to study surface oscillations of the ladybird beetles (Hippodamia convergens) measured in different parts of the insect at picometer level. This allows us to record a much broader spectral range of possible surface vibrations (up to several kHz) than the previously studied oscillations due to breathing, heartbeat cycles, coelopulses, etc. (up to 5-10 Hz). Here we demonstrate three different ways with which one can identify the origins of the observed peaks - by physical positioning the probe near a specific organ, and by using biological or chemical stimuli. We report on identification of high frequency peaks associated with H. convergens heart, spiracular closer muscles, and oscillations associated with muscles activated while drinking. The method, being a relatively non-invasive technique providing a new type of information, may be useful in developing “nanophysiology” of insects.     

Development and Reproduction of Ladybeetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) on the Citrus Aphids Aphis spiraecola Patch and Toxoptera citricida (Kirkaldy) (Homoptera: Aphididae)

Seven species of Coccinellidae inhabiting citrus groves in Florida were evaluated for ability to develop and reproduce on the citrus aphids Toxoptera citricida (Kirkaldy) and Aphis spiraecola Patch. Choice tests performed with adults and larvae indicated that both aphid species were generally acceptable prey. Coccinella septempunctata L., Coleomegilla maculata fuscilabris (Mulsant), Coelophora inaequalis F., and Olla v-nigrum Mulsant were unable to complete development on either aphid. Hippodamia convergens Guerin larvae completed development on A. spiraecola with 68% survival; none survived on T. citricida. Only Cycloneda sanguinea (L.) and Harmonia axyridis Pallas completed development on both A. spiraecola (60 and 70% survival, respectively) and T. citricida (100 and 95% survival, respectively). Larval developmental time was shorter on T. citricida than on A. spiraecola, and resulting adults were heavier, differences being more pronounced in H. axyridis. Females of C. septempunctata, C. inaequalis, and O. v-nigrum produced viable eggs on T. citricida. O. v-nigrum did not produce eggs on A. spiraecola. Females of C. m. fuscilabris and H. axyridis produced no eggs on A. spiraecola and mostly infertile eggs on T. citricida. Female H. convergens laid twice as many eggs feeding on T. citricida as on A. spiraecola and egg viability was similar. C. sanguinea females laid similar numbers of eggs on both aphids, but eggs produced on A. spiraecola had higher fertility. Pollen added to the T. citricida diet temporarily improved the fertility of H. axyridis females, but not that of C. sanguinea females. C. sanguinea was judged the best candidate for augmentative biocontrol of T. citricida, the primary vector of citrus tristeza virus.     

陕北烟田多异瓢虫空间分布型与抽样技术研究

根据1995年烟田多异瓢虫Hippodamiavariegats（Goeze）调查,计算了6种分布型指数,以及频次拟合优度检验,结果表明：该虫幼虫、蛹在陕北烟田里聚集分布,其聚集强度随种群密度增加而降低,聚集原因是环境差异;卵块分布同时具有聚集和随机的趋势,成虫为随机分布。同时建立了各虫态的理论抽样量公式,估测种群密度公式。     

Egg production by the coccinellid Hippodamia convergens fed on two morphs of the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae

Adults of the lady beetle Hippodamia convergens Guérin-Méneville requiring aphids for egg production, were fed suboptimal amounts of apteriform virginoparous larvae or alatiform gynoparous larvae of the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulz.), and artificial diet ad lib. The beetles initiated oviposition sooner and deposited significantly more eggs when supplied with the same weight of apterous virginoparous morph. The possible nutritional, hormonal, and ecological implications of the findings are discussed.

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Zusammenfassung Die Eiproduktion des Marienkäfers Hippodamia convergens, welcher hierzu Blattläuse als Nahrung benötigt, wurde bei Fütterung mit zwei verschiedenen Morphen der Blattlaus Myzus persicae untersucht. Der Verzehr derselben Menge flügelloser Virginoparen führte im Vergleich zu geflügelten Gynoparen zu früherer und signifikant erhöhter Eiabgabe. Der hormonale und ernährungsphysiologische Hintergrund und die ökologische Bedeutung dieser Ergebnisse werden diskutiert.